A Child Is Missing Alert Program

Through the Edward Byrne Memorial Congressionally Recommended Awards program, the Office of Justice Programs helps communities improve the capacity of local justice systems and supports training and technical assistance programs and other efforts that strategically target local needs. This program is authorized to organizations identified in the Text and Joint Explanatory Statement, Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009.

This award will support activities in South Dakota. This program will support the early search and recovery efforts made by local law enforcement during the initial hours after the disappearance of a child or an elderly person (Alzheimer's patients), college students (on campus) and the disabled. The program utilizes high-tech telephony (a bank of 181 T-1 communication lines) to place 1000 telephone calls, in 60 seconds, into the neighborhood where the disappearance occurs.

The message given the resident of the neighborhood advises the residents of the disappearance and asks the community to call the police with any information they may have about the missing person. Program services are provided at no cost to the communities or law enforcement.

NCA/NCF